Superstructure for tunnel-kiln cars



July 24, 1928.

' D- B. HENDRYX SUPERSTRUCTURE. FOR 'guNuEL KILN CARS I'iled July 21, 1927 Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE; it

DWIGHTBUSHNELL HENDRYX, or BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, irssren'on 'ro HANLEY COMPANY, or BRADFORD,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFP'E'NNSYLVANIA.

SUPERSTRUCTURE FOR TUNNEL-KILIN' CABS.

Application filed July 21,

, My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing which shows one embodiment of the invention selectedbycme for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description andclaims.

In the operation of tunnel kilns for burning bricks and other coarse clay andceramlc products, the kiln cars are proyidedwith a superstructure, upon which thegoods to be fired are supported, to protect themetallic portions of the car from the injurious effects of p the high temperatures within. the kiln.

The superstructure must be provided with passages tl'ierethrough for the products ofcombustion, inorder that the lowest rows of goods on the car may be thoroughly and evenly burned, and the superstructure musthave suficient strength tosupport the great weight, amounting in some cases to many tons, without breaking down when exposed to the highest temperatures. Heretofore these structures have usually been made of fire clay or other highly refractory material in special shapes which were costly, and required a kiln owner to keep a large supply of the necessary shapes on hand for repairs and replacements. I

The object of my invention is to greatly cheapen the cost of construction of the superstructure, by employing between courses of simple rectangular forms of refractory material, courses of brick of standard size made either of refractory material or preferably being standard ordinary bricks, such as the product of the kiln, the courses being combined in such manner as toprovide the great strength required, and the necessary passages for the products of combustion and flue gases, hot air, etc., tofacilitate the operations taking place in the kiln.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a tunnel kiln car embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 38 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1, represents the metal car body, and 2, the supporting wheels. The metal body is preferably provided with a layer, illustrated at 3, of refractory mate rial applied in any desired way and made up of block or otherwise, the edges of which project, as at 4, beneath the longitudinal 1927. Serial No. 207,441.

projecting ribs on the walls of the tunnel, and suitable sand or other seals (not shown) maybe provided, if desired, to prevent direct radiation to the metal parts of the car and to prevent the hot gases from circulating below the same, as far as possible.

Upon the base layer, 3, I arrange a horizontal layer of refractory blocks,indicated at 5, which are of oblong shape, of greater widtlrthan the length 0ft]; standard brick, and of greater length than the width of several standard bricks. The sides and ends of the blocks,5, are brought together closely at their meeting faces, to produce a substantially uniform supporting"surface.

Upon this layer of blocks are laid double rows of standard size bricks withtheir faces of greatest area horizontal, as indicated at 7- 7, two pairs ofbricks, being laid upon each block, 5, spaced fromeach other,as indicated at 8, and having theirjouteredges set back from the ends of the blocks, 5, as indicated at 9-9, and their ends set in from the edges of the blocks, 5, as indicated at 10, 10. A course of the rectangular blocks, like the blocks, 5, are then placed upon the bricks, 7, as indicated at 5 5, and each block, 5 of the upper course will be thoroughly supported by the flat laid bricks, 7, while spaces, 8 and 9, extending transversely of the car, and narrower spaces, 10, extending longitudinally of the car, are formed between the spaced pairs of bricks, asclearly shown in the drawings. This arrangement permits the kiln gases tocirculate beneath the top course of refractoryblocks, and heat them so that an even and thorough burning will be imparted to the ware placed immedi-.

ately above the superstructure.

l/Vhile the bricks, 7, of refractory material and of standard size could be used, we find that ordinary standard bricks give entirely satisfactory results, and result in greater economy, and an ample supply is always at hand. It is, therefore, only necessary to use and stock for repairs, a supply of the refractory blocks, of a single size for both the top and lower courses, so that the blocks (5 and 5) are interchangeable in these courses. According to my construction great strength is obtained, as the blocks, 5 of the upper course are each supported by the bricks, 7, placed with their faces of greatest area horizontal, and are supported over a wide area adjacent to each end and sufficiently toward the center s'o'thatthey are not liable to bend or break under strain.

While I might employ a single fiat course of separated standard bricks, courses; of refractory blocks,I.pr efer toemploy two courses, as the construction is equally strong and affordslar-ger spaces for the passage of heated gases through beneath the upper course of refractory blocks, with better results in preheating, firing and cooling.

The passages, coohng'the ware uniformly by faclhtating the cooling of the lower-course or courses,

While the cars are passing throughthe cooling zone of the kiln, and after the cars are removed from the kiln.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. A tunnel kiln car having a superstructure comprising a'courseoif blocks of refractory'inaterial, supported upon blocks ofstandardbricl'r size.

2. A tunnel kiln car hav ng a superstrucr ture comprising a course otblocks of refractory" material, supported upon blocks pf standard brick size spaced apart to provide passages for the circulation of gaseous products beneath the said blocks.

3. A tunnel kiln car having a superstructure comprising a course of blocks of rebetween the 1 i and 0a also assist in fractor'ymaterial, supported uponblocks of standard brick size, each block being superimposed upon two. of said bricks, placed with their faces of-greater area-horizontal,

and separated from each other, and from the ends of the blocks to provide transverse passages below sald blocks.

4t. A tunnel kiln car having a superstructure coniprising av course of blocks of re fractory material, supported upon blocks of standard brick size, arranged in pairs one A I pairs being separatedfroni each other and set in from the edges of said blocks, and a top'course of refractory blockssupported upon said bricks and registering substantially with the blocks of the lowercourse.

In testimony whereof I 'aifix signature.-

DWIGHT BUSHNELL HENDRYX. 

